Search All Applications in Automobile Vision: LIDAR
Application US20160291136
Published 2016-10-06
Modular Lidar System
A modular LIDAR system may be formed of multiple LIDAR components. Each LIDAR component may include a laser emitter and a laser detector configured in a frame. Multiple LIDAR components may be arranged on a rotatable swivel housing. The rotatable housing may rotate about a first axis that is perpendicular to a plane defined by a mounting base. The multiple LIDAR components may be aimed outward from the swivel housing at different directions, which may range up to 90 degrees or up to 180 degrees in separation in some embodiments. When the rotatable housing is rotated completely around the first axis, the multiple LIDAR components may scan a first field of view of 360 degrees around the first axis and may scan a second field of view of substantially 180 degrees about a second axis. The modular LIDAR system may be implemented with an aircraft for navigational purposes.
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- 1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
a UAV frame configured to support components of the UAV; a propulsion system coupled to the UAV frame, the propulsion system causing rotation of rotors to generate thrust to propel the UAV during air travel; a LIDAR system coupled to the UAV frame, the LIDAR system comprising:
a swivel housing rotatably coupled to the UAV frame, the swivel housing configured to rotate about a first axis that is substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane defined by the UAV frame; and
LIDAR components coupled to the swivel housing, the LIDAR components aimed outward from the swivel housing at different orientations between a first orientation along the first axis and a second orientation along a second axis that is angularly offset relative to the first axis, each LIDAR component including at least one laser emitter and at least one laser detector; and
a motor to cause rotation of the swivel housing relative to the UAV frame, wherein a full 360 degrees rotation of the swivel housing about the first axis creates a horizontal field of view that provides capture of data to perform distance measurement of objects in substantially 180 degrees of a vertical field of view.
- 5. An apparatus comprising:
a mounting base; a swivel housing rotatably coupled to the mounting base, the swivel housing configured to rotate about a first axis that is perpendicular to a plane defined by the mounting base; LIDAR components coupled to the swivel housing, the LIDAR components aimed outward from the swivel housing at different orientations between a first orientation along the first axis and a second orientation along a second axis that is angularly offset relative to the first axis, each LIDAR component including at least one laser emitter and at least one laser detector; and wherein in a full rotation of the swivel housing about a horizontal field of view provides capture of data to perform distance measurement of objects in at least 180 degrees of vertical field of view.
- 17. A LIDAR system comprising:
a chassis to support a plurality of LIDAR components, where the chassis orients each LIDAR component in a different directions; and the plurality of LIDAR components comprising:
a frame;
at least one laser emitter coupled to the frame;
at least one laser detector coupled to the frame and aimed in a same direction as the at least one laser emitter;
a circuit board including embedded logic and wiring to capture and route signals to and from the at least one laser emitter and the at least one laser detector; and
a plug coupled to the circuit board, the plug including an interface configured to couple to the chassis to communicate the signals to a LIDAR controller.
